Beaten Army private dies of injuries

Infantryman Khacha Pacha, hospitalised since August 21 after being beaten by three other soldiers at a Lop Buri Army camp, died on Friday morning.

His pregnant wife confirmed the death in Facebook post on Friday morning.

It included a photo of her hand grasping his as he lay in his hospital bed and the caption, “I know you are very tired and you fought to survive until the end. Rest in peace.”

Another relative posted a similar photo with the caption about “Khem” (Khacha’s nickname): “Khem fought the best he could and passed away at 5.45am.”

Khacha’s injuries were initially believed to have been acquired while he was being disciplined. But Lt-Colonel Monchai Yimyoo, commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment (King’s Guard), and Army chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart denied this.

They insisted that Khacha was in the minority in a “three on one” fight and Monchai said the three assailants, all Army privates who have not been named, confessed to attacking Khacha during an argument.

He said the three had been disciplined, along with their supervisor of the time.

Khacha’s family had filed a complaint with Muang Lop Buri Police seeking assault charges. The case is ongoing and the charge could become more serious now that he’s died.

Khacha, father of a toddler and soon-to-be born child, was conscripted in May 2017.

He was taken to hospital on the night of August 21 by Army officers who claimed he’d suffered acute cardiac arrest from “an unknown cause”.

He’d been on a respirator in intensive care with what doctors estimated to be a 30-per-cent chance of survival.

His condition worsened early this month as his brain swelled and he developed infections in the lungs and blood.